Now available Hoof Protection for the 21st Century!

At left a pair of 12th Century Horse Shoes

Forged in an age when horses were beasts of burden whose anatomy and health needs were little understood. 

Hoof protection was to allow horses to work hard on a daily basis.  The effect on the horse and its longterm soundness was not known nor even considered important.

As you can see there has been practically no change in the design of horse shoes in the 9 centuries since they become popular.  What other aspect of equine care has not changed in 9 centuries!  We know a lot more know and can do a lot better for our domestic equine friends.

Even today steel horse shoeing firmly rooted in the old fashioned idea of "peripherally loading" the hoof.  Placing a steel band around the outside edge of the hoof and basically lifting the horse off the ground by the wall of  his hoof capsule alone.

Because of the amazing engineering of the hoof we are able to do this but we now know there are consequences to the horse's soundness and the trade off is definately not a fair one for the horse.

Research has shown that the horse, like all other mammals must use other parts of his sole and heels for weight bearing if the internal soft tissues and bones of the hoof to remain sound for life. 

Peripheral loading causes significant changes to the hoof and its internal components, and sadly it also masks these changes until they are well advanced and lameness is obvious.

Only by allowing the internal components of the hoof, i.e. walls, sole, heels, digital cushion, tendons, ligaments, bones and joints to perform weight bearing and energy tranfer as they evolved to can we have sound horses for their entire life.  

Horses need to have all parts of the hoof and its internal structures in use in the way nature intended every time the hoof is loaded.  This keeps them robust and working in harmony with the equine biomechanics. 

The hoof is filled with stuctures that evolved to remain robust and healthy by being weight bearing.  Heel first stride landings, hoof flexion, concussion absorption & even sole & capsule abrasion are all vital aspects of hoof function that are compromised by peripheral loading.

The research done in the last few years by top equine researchers like Professor Robert Bowker of Michigan State University's Equine Hoof Laboaratory http://pathobiology.msu.edu/people/bowker.html clearly shows that there is a cascade of ill effects to the hoof from peripheral loading, and in fact the entire horse due to postures & gaits horses adopt to protect sore hooves. In fact even serious hoof conditions such as Navicular syndrome are never seen in healthy barefoot horses!

Andrew Bowe (The Barefoot Blacksmith www.barehoofcare.com) a Master Farrier, Equine Podiotherapist, Scientist and owner of Mayfield Barehoofcare centre where horses wtih serious hoof conditions are rehabilitated, says that there is no longer any reason that horses with navicular syndrome cannot be successfully rehabilitated with natural hoof care practices.  Therefore no need for them to undergo painful invasive surgery and years of corrective shoeing.  Andrew explains now that we understand the processes that create the changes that we call navicular syndrome we can, with correct barefoot rehabilitation and boots, reverse these without surgery.

Summary

With the use of hoof boots for hoof protection you are able to offer yourself and your horse the following advantages:

• Total hoof protection when you need it.  Freedom when you don't!
• Access to natural wear that ehances continuing hoof health when not being ridden.
• Access at all times to the hoof capsule itself.  That way you can maintain it regularly to mimic normal wear. By doing this your horse is always in harmony with its normal biomechanics.
• Offer protection that still allows for stimulation of the areas of the hoof, heels, and sole that would be naturally loaded without shoes, so they remain strong and robust from normal stimulation.
• Protection from concussion. Concussion is dissipated in the hoof by the tissues there that evolved exactly for this purpose. 
• Comfort for horses with less than optimum hoof function - pads can be inserted to help horses with pre existing hoof conditions whilst they recover more robust hoof forms.
• Many styles of boots are available for varying hoof shapes and riding choices so its a win win for both you and your horse.